Raptors Edge by Pride in High-Scoring Shootout

WESTON, Mass. – Despite Grace Politis (Billerica, Mass.) and Samantha Salamone (Milford, Mass.) combining for 15 goals, Regis fell to Bard, 17-16 on Tuesday evening in non-conference action at Regis Stadium. The Raptors snapped the Pride's four game winning streak and Regis drops to 5-3 on the season. Bard improves to 4-2 with the win.

Shortly after Salamone tied the game at one apiece early into the game, Mary-Elizabeth Clair (Bristol, R.I.) scored her second goal of the night to put Bard back ahead, 2-1 at the 26:30 mark. Politis responded for the Pride, rattling off three unanswered goals to put Regis ahead 4-2.

Midfielder Joanna Regan (Selden, N.Y.) would score on a free position shot to cut the deficit to one goal, but the Pride responded again with three more unanswered goals to extend their lead. Salamone scored back-to-back goals, while Politis added her fourth goal with 10:41 remaining in the first half.

Over the next seven minutes, the Raptors were able to claw their way back into the game by scoring six straight goals to reclaim their lead, 9-7. Bard saw two goals by both Victoria Fleisher (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Stephanie LaMont (Skippack, Pa.) during that stretch, as well as a goal apiece by Regan and junior Brianna Bean (Kaneohe, Hawaii).

Sashae Walls (Everett, Mass.) scored an unassisted goal with under 1:30 to play in the half after her wrap around shot from behind the goal found the back of the net, and Politis added another free position goal to close out the half with both teams tied at 9-9.

The second half proved to be even more tightly contested than the first, with both teams trading goals with one another throughout the opening 12 minutes of play. Regan scored to knot the game at 13-13 with 18:46, which proved to be a turning point in the game as Bard started to really break through. LaMont scored back-to-back goals, while Regan tacked on her fourth of the game, and the Raptors claimed their largest lead of the night, 16-13.

At the 9:52 mark, Politis capitalized on a beautiful pass by Lindsey Graver (Bellingham, Mass.), and shortly after, Salamone scored an unassisted goal for her seventh of the night as the Pride trailed only one with only a few minutes to play. Unfortunately for the Pride, Bean scored what proved to be the winning goal to put Bard ahead 17-15. Despite another goal by Politis with under a minute remaining, the Pride came up just short.

Maddy Huggins (Mukilteo, Wash.) made six saves for the win in goal for Bard, while Emma Decker (Southborough, Mass.) finished with eight saves in the losing effort for Regis.

The Pride will be back in action again on Thursday, March 28 as they travel to Thomas for a 4:00 p.m. non-conference game. Bard will be on the road again on Friday, Mach 29 when they open up their conference schedule at RIT at 4:00 p.m.